Considering those values and our goal of working with like-minded companies, we’re proud to be collaborating with merino wool apparel manufacturer Bluey Merino.

Bluey Merino is also a member of 1% for the Planet, and the company is dedicated to sourcing “certified ethical merino wool direct from Australian Merino growers and manufacturing in the country of consumption”, meaning clothing sold in Australia is made in Australia, while clothing sold in the US will be made here.

Not only that, but Bluey Merino is committed to an “ongoing commitment to supply chain provenance and transparency.” Amazingly, every batch of wool the company buys is traceable back to its original source, meaning the farm, ranch or station where the sheep are raised and shorn. And that information is readily available to customers, with wool source info included on every garment hangtag.

I met Bluey Merino’s Founder and Managing Director Andrew Ross at the Bend Outdoor Worx Outdoor Industry accelerator, where he presented his company’s mission and product. Andrew is as affable a gent as you could hope to meet, and he is basing his US operations here in beautiful Bend, Oregon.

Andrew spoke proudly about how Australia’s supply of high-quality, ethical merino wool is substantially bigger than that of New Zealand, with some 30 million Australian merino sheep providing over 80 percent of the merino wool used by the global apparel industry. New Zealand, on the other hand, produces much less high-quality merino wool due to the much smaller number of merino sheep living in the country; a flock of fewer than 3 million. (This came as a surprise to me, which Andrew attributed to admittedly great marketing by the New Zealand wool industry.)

Cascade Cadence is excited to be working with Bluey Merino as they bring their product to the US market. After having worn some Bluey gear—and comparing it to competing brands and synthetic materials—I can vouch for the insane comfort of their superfine merino wool!